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Ex-President Donald Trump indicated on Sunday that he is not actively contemplating supplying Ukrainian forces with long-range Tomahawk cruise missiles. After being asked by a journalist aboard his plane, he responded, “No, not currently.” Earlier accounts had indicated the Pentagon informed the administration that U.S. inventories of Tomahawks were sufficient to allow this transfer.

Ukrainian Defense Efforts Continue Despite Missile Shortage

While Ukrainian forces has been requesting Tomahawk missiles to execute far-reaching strikes against Russian targets, it has still managed to wage a effective operation using its domestically-produced drones and rockets against Moscow's armed and key targets, such as fuel storage facilities and processing plants. On Sunday, a Kyiv's airstrike targeted the port facility on the coast, igniting a fire and harming two ships, according to Moscow authorities. Adjacent Russian airports in the region also had to be shut down.

Turkey Refineries Turn to Non-Russian Oil Supplies

Turkey's biggest oil refining facilities are increasing procurement of non-Russian crude in reaction to the recent western sanctions on Russia, as reported by industry sources. The country is a major buyer of Russian crude, together with Beijing and New Delhi, but processing companies are mirroring New Delhi's example in cutting back imports.

STAR Plant Expands Crude Procurement

One of the largest Turkey's refineries, SOCAR Turkey Aegean Refinery (STAR), owned by Azeri firm SOCAR, has lately purchased multiple cargoes of crude from Iraq, Kazakh, and other alternative producers for year-end delivery, according to insiders. This represent approximately 77,000 to 129,000 barrels per day (bpd) of alternative crude, depending on cargo size. In contrast, Russian crude accounted for nearly the entirety of the plant's crude intake in recent months, totaling about 210 thousand bpd, according to trade information. SOCAR refused to comment.

Another Major Refiner Likewise Increasing Non-Russian Purchases

The other major Turkey's refiner – Tupras refinery – was additionally increasing purchases of non-Russian types of crude, as stated by two insiders. The company was also expected to in the near future completely phase out Russian crude at a key facility of its primary main domestic refineries to maintain petroleum exports to Europe without breaching the EU’s upcoming restrictions. The refiner did not respond to a inquiry for comment.

Ukrainian Deploys Special Forces to Pokrovsk

Ukraine has sent elite troops to the embattled east city of Pokrovsk in an attempt to push back an fierce Russian offensive comprising a large number of soldiers, according to Kyiv’s top commander. The city, dubbed “the entrance to Donetsk,” is located on a key supply route for the Kyiv's military and has been under Russia's sights for over a year as Moscow pushes to seize the entire east Donetsk region.

Latest Developments in Pokrovsk

At least two hundred Moscow's soldiers had penetrated Pokrovsk’s defensive lines, Ukrainian officials reported recently, while analysts concluded that others were closing in on its outskirts in a pincer-shaped movement. In his nightly speech on Sunday, the Ukrainian president mentioned the fighting in the city and “results in the destruction of the invading forces.”

Ukrainian President Reveals Enhanced Air Defence Network

Zelenskyy, who has been pushing his allies for additional air defences to hold off Moscow's strikes, stated on this past Sunday that the country had strengthened its air defense capabilities with Germany’s support. “We've strengthened the Patriot element of our national air defence,” Zelenskyy said, mentioning the advanced American defense systems. Not offering additional details, the Ukrainian leader specifically thanked Berlin and its chancellor, Friedrich Merz, for thanks.

Russian Attacks Claim Civilians, Disrupt Electricity

Russian unmanned aircraft and missiles fired at Ukrainian territory took the lives of at least six individuals, among them two minors, and disrupted power to tens of thousands of residents, officials said on this past Sunday. Moscow's military struck the Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa areas, said the representatives of Ukraine’s chief prosecutor. The victims were male minors of ages eleven and 14, stated Ukraine’s human rights commissioner. Russia’s strikes cut electricity to the entire east Donetsk area as well as nearly 58 thousand households in the south Zaporizhzhia region, their local leaders said. Ukraine’s Vostok army group confirmed a number of its members were killed in a particular of the enemy strikes on Dnipropetrovsk.